Progress of the National Tropical Weeds Eradication Program

Abstract

The nationally cost-shared National Tropical Weeds Eradication Program (NTWEP) targets infestations of Miconia calvescens DC., Limnocharis flava (L.) Buchenau, Mikania micrantha Kunth, Miconia racemosa (Aubl.) DC. and Miconia nervosa (SM.) Triana. All target weeds are native to tropical and subtropical areas of Central and South America, and the Caribbean. The program commenced in late 2003 and recently received endorsement for a national Response Plan from 2024 to 2028.

Survey and control operations for NTWEP are predominantly on-ground and conducted by NTWEP field crews in Queensland and Rous County Council in New South Wales. The New South Wales and Northern Territory governments also assist with coordinating and conducting various NTWEP related activities in their respective jurisdictions. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and several local governments also provide on ground support to the Program.

As a long running program, the NTWEP has developed various sources of field data to measure the progress towards eradication and reporting progress as indicators to nationally cost-sharing partners. This eradication data, progress and issues differ for each target weed and are discussed below.